Clip



Dec. 15, 1942. w, wlLEY 2,305,122

CLIP

Filed June 5., 1939 [N VENTOR 14 172214 72 144 26 BY I A TTORNE Y5.

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIP William R. Wiley, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 5, 1939, Serial No. 277,392

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to clips and more particularly relates to a novel and improved clip construction which finds particular utility in attaching mouldings to panels.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved clip of the type mentioned in which the clips are secured to supporting panels in an improved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved clips of the type mentioned, which may be readily applied to supporting panels in an improved manner.

.A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved manner of securing an attaching clip between mating flanges of adjacent supporting panels so that a moulding applied to the clips will conceal the juncture line between the panels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clip of the type mentioned having a spear-like anchoring portion adapted to be received and securely held between mating flanges of adjacent panels.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, broken top plan view illustrating a moulding strip mounted in position on supporting panels by means of clips of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a novel and improved clip construction according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, a pair of sheet metal panels I II and I2 are illustrated having inwardly disposed, mating flanges l4 and I6, respectively. The panels are joined together by spot welding. for example, at suitable intervals'therealong, as indicated at I8. The spaces between the welds may be sprung apart, as illustrated, in an exa gerated form at 20.

A channel-shaped moulding 22, having inturned flanges 24, is adapted to be mounted on the panels l0 and I2 to conceal the joint between such panels by means of clips, generally indicated at 26. The specific form of moulding strip illustrated is preferably made from a continuous length of rolled section of substantially uniform cross-section. The flanges 24 are bent to lie in substantially the same plane and are adapted to seat tightly against the panels I and [2, when the strip is mounted by means of the clips 26.

The clipsforming the subject matter of the present invention are preferably formed from a single integral sheet metal stamping made from relatively high carbon steel, which, after being formed, is heat treated or otherwise tempered in order that it will be substantially harder than the sheet metal panels and moulding strip with which it is associated, and which heat treating or tempering serves to materially increase the resiliency and elasticity of the clip as a whole.

The clip will, of course, be formed commercially by means of suitable dies. The clip is generally T-shaped and has a leg anchoring portion 28, which is substantially flat and which has resilient wing or tab portions 30 formed on the side edges thereof adjacent the lower end of the leg. The leg is also provided with a generally U-shaped recess 32 in th lower edge thereof. The wings or tabs 30 provide the leg with a generally spearshaped appearance; and such wi portions 30 are bent at an acute angle to the plane of the major portion of leg 28, so that the upper edges and outer corners thereof are off-set to one side of such plane, as best shown in Fig. 2. The outer edges of wings 30 are downwardly and inwardly tapered, as indicated at 34, so that the spaces in the panels between the welds are spread apart as th leg is inserted between the flanges, and

the top edges 36 are preferably substantially normal to the side edges of leg 28. The purpose and function of the leg portion 28, together with the wing portions 30, will be described in detail hereinafter.

A head portion is provided on the clip adjacent the top of leg 28 and such head portion includes laterally extending arms 38, which lie in a plane at an angle to the plane of leg 28. Such arms 38 are provided with resilient fingers 40 adjacent the ends thereof, which terminate in inwardly turned cam portions 42. The arms are also formed with inwardly turned cam portions 44 adjacent the ends thereof, each of such fingers 44 lying opposite to one of the fingers 42, so that such arms 40, th end portions of arms 38 and fingers 42 and 44 serve to retain the clip seated within the moulding strip 22 by engagement of the flngers 42 and 44 with the facing edges of inturned flanges 24.

The clips 26 are adapted to be secured to the panels l and I2 by inserting the spear-like leg portion 28 within the spaces, such as 20, between the welds l 8. Such portions are sprung apart, as pointed out above, and one face of leg 28 engages one of the panels while the outer top corners of wings 30 resiliently bear against the opposite panel flange. The wings or tabs 38 are resilient so that the leg may be readily inserted within the space as such wings are urged inwardly during insertion due to the engagement of tapered edges 34 with the edges of the space. Such wings or tabs are inherently, resiliently urged outwardly against the engaged panel, so that any attempt to withdraw the clip from between the panels would result in the outer corners of the upper edges of wing portions 30 biting into the metal surface of flange l4, as illustrated in Fig. 2. so that the clips cannot be' removed therefrom.

iii

This is possible, since as pointed out above, the

such structure also flnds utility in otherarticles such as sheet metal cabinets, and the like, where it is desired to apply ornamental mouldings for the purpose of concealing joints, or the like.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described, withoutdeparting from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a structure including plates having flanges joined together so as to provide fastener receiving sockets at the joint between said plates, spring fasteners having shanks nonrotatively engaged in said sockets from the unfianged side of said plates, resilient arms carried by said shanks, and a hollow molding having intumed flanges engaged beneath said arms.

2. The method of applying a flanged molding to a paneled structure which consists in forming sockets for fasteners in the joint between adjacent panels, wedging theshanks of yielding fasteners having laterally extending bent arms into said sockets from the outside of said joint, and then engaging the flanges of the molding with said arms by springing said arms into interlocked engagement with the molding flanges.

3. In a construction comprising a pair of sheet metal panels having intumed mating flanges joined together so as to provide fastener receiving sockets at the joint between said flanges and a channel-shaped molding having intumed flanges overlying the surface of said panels and covering the joint therebetween, a clip for anchoring said molding in predetermined position,

said clip having a prong anchored in one of said sockets and having lugs adapted to engage the face of one of said panel flanges, said clip having a head portion adapted for snap fastening engagement with said molding to anchor the same in predetermined position.

4. In combination, a structure including panels having flanges joined together so as to provide fastener receiving sockets at the joint between said panels, spring fasteners each having a prong portion having lugs thereon adapted to engage the flanges of said panels within said sockets to anchor said clip in predetermined position therein, resilient arms formed on said spring fasteners and a channel-shaped molding having intumed flanges engaged beneath said arms.

WILLIAM' R. WILEY. 

